Alibaba founder Jack Ma turns to pursuing cultural endeavours

Alibaba Group chairman Jack Ma Yun has always been a media favourite, but he now says he'd like to disappear from public view and turn a new page in life to focus on "things that really interest" him.

"Commerce will only be a hobby," Ma, who stepped down as chief executive of the mainland's largest e-commerce company on May 10, told the South China Morning Post.

The self-made billionaire, formerly an English teacher in Hangzhou, is one of the most successful internet entrepreneurs in China, but he said "the Jack Ma era" is over now.

Ma said he now planned to devote himself to tasks that may not generate profit but will benefit society as a whole, like filmmaking, environmental protection and education.

Many were surprised in January when Ma revealed his plan to relinquish his role as Alibaba's chief executive. After all, he is only 48, and is the icon of the privately held firm he co-founded. With his high-profile and witty remarks, he is widely seen as a rare example of a Chinese entrepreneur: a person with charisma.